USCIS emphasized on its site  that these dates are approximations, and unforeseen occurrences may delay processing.

For more information regarding adjustments for Asylees, visit www.uscis.gov.

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Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott last week announced he has shut down three fraudulent East Texas immigration-consulting businesses.  Abbott secured temporary restraining orders against the operations.  The latest lawsuits were filed under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and accused all the defendants of misrepresenting to consumers that they were qualified to provide immigration-related services such as dispensing advice and counseling about U.S. immigration law and preparing immigration documents.  None of the accused is an attorney or accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals.  Individuals who believe they have been the victims of a scam should report it to the Office of the Attorney General at 1-800-252-8011.

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The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently issued a report for Congress focusing on U.S. immigration policy on asylum seekers.  In FY2003, there were 42,114 claims for asylum filed with USCIS, and by the close of the fiscal year, there were 262,102 asylum cases pending at USCIS.  The report stated that USCIS asylum officers approved 11,434 cases in FY2003, and the percentage of cases approved was 29% of cases decided.  The percentage of Executive Office for Immigration Review (EIOR) asylum cases approved was 37% of cases decided in both FY2002 and FY2003.  At the end of FY2003, there were 158,624 cases pending for Asylees to adjust to legal permanent resident (LPR) status, and a person who receives asylum today would wait about 16 years to become an LPR due to numerical limits in the law.

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The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently issued a report for Congress regarding the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations for biometric identifiers and border security.  In its final report, the 9/11 Commission concluded that funding and completing a biometric entry-exit screening system for travelers to and from the United States is necessary for national security.  The Commission noted that US-VISIT is already in place, but considers it a first phase in a process that should be consolidated with US-VISIT in order to streamline border inspections.  Based in part upon the commission’s recommendations, Congress included biometric provisions related to entry/exit control in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced last week in a press release that foreign visitors departing from Philadelphia International Airport are required to follow checkout procedures before departing on their flight.  Visitors must provide two index finger scans and take a digital photo as part of a pilot program to test and evaluate an automated biometric exit process.

The exit procedures being piloted at Philadelphia require foreign visitors to go through one of the following processes:

·         Visitors departing the United States will check out of the country at exit stations located within the airport.

·         Visitors still use the exit station but will also be required to present their receipt at the departure gate to confirm that they checked out at the exit station.

US Customs and Border Protection Officers will provide foreign visitors with a card explaining the exit process with they arrive in the United States.